Urban Research & Development Corp., Bethlehem, =
unveiled eight=20
possible greenways that could be added to the township's =
parks=20
system.

A greenway is a corridor of open space that can include a =
trail.=20
Greenways can follow streams, abandoned railroads, canals, =
roads and=20
infrastructure such as power lines and sewer lines, said =
Steven L.=20
Szigethy, a community planner with Urban Research & =
Development.

The finished greenways plan would identify a network of =
public=20
trails that connect destinations such as parks, schools, =
shopping=20
centers and neighborhoods. The network also would link to =
spots in=20
surrounding municipalities, such as the Union Canal Trail, =
across=20
the Tulpehocken Creek in Bern Township.

=93The township is not going to route a trail onto =
private=20
property,=94 Szigethy said. =93The township is not going to =
take the=20
land.=94

The residents offered a few suggestions for the greenways =
plan.

Elizabeth R. Graham said she likes to use her bicycle to =
run=20
errands. She supports creating a connection from Spring to =
the Union=20
Canal Trail.

=93I believe families would be interested in loop trails =
in the=20
township,=94 she said.

Township supervisors commissioned the $23,800 greenways =
study,=20
which will be partially paid with a $12,000 grant from the=20
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural =
Resources.

=93Now's the time before we continue our growth, =
especially in the=20
southern end of the township,=94 Supervisor John Dallas III =
said. =93I=20
think we owe this to our youth.=94

Urban Research & Development will hold another =
meeting in=20
late spring to accept comments about an updated plan. A =
final report=20
will be finished and ready for a vote from the supervisors =
by=20
summer.

=93It will cost your community some money, but the =
benefits are=20
quite reasonable for what you're going to pay,=94 Hunsberger =
said.=20
=93This is the beginning. This is where we're scratching the =
surface.=20
This is going to take years to take place.=94

=A9 =
2005=20
Reading Eagle Company, All Rights ReservedServing the Berks =
County=20
community and surrounding areas for over 130 years!This site =
contains=20
links to other Internet sites.These links are not endorsements =
of any=20
products or services in such sites,and no information in such =
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been endorsed or approved by this=20
site.